General George Washington Born: 1732 Washington served as a Virginia delegate to the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia in 1775. Facing a fight for independence with Britain, he was elected Commander of the Continental Army. He was chosen to lead the army because of his experience and reputation. As Commander, Washington was a daring leader. He used the element of surprise to win American victories. One of the most memorable surprise movements was when he led his troops across the Delaware River and attacked the unsuspecting Hessian troops at Trenton, New Jersey in 1776. Generals Howe and Cornwallis, leaders of England's Ministerial Army, had planned to engage the entire American army in combat at one time and defeat them. But Washington surprised them when he secretly led his troops across the icy Delaware River. From there, the Americans captured Trenton and Princeton, New Jersey, briefly pushing the British army back to New York. This maneuver forced the British troops to spend the winter in New York City. During this short three-week campaign, the entire cause of the American Revolution was saved by Washington's bold and skillful action, and the Revolutionary troops were more confident of their abilities to win their war for their independence that they rightfully deserved. General George Washington Died: 1799.
Washington served as a Virginia delegate to the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia in 1775. Facing a fight for independence with Britain, he was elected Commander of the Continental Army. He was chosen to lead the army because of his experience and reputation.
As Commander, Washington was a daring leader. He used the element of surprise to win American victories. One of the most memorable surprise movements was when he led his troops across the Delaware River and attacked the unsuspecting Hessian troops at Trenton, New Jersey in 1776. Generals Howe and Cornwallis, leaders of England's Ministerial Army, had planned to engage the entire American army in combat at one time and defeat them. But Washington surprised them when he secretly led his troops across the icy Delaware River. From there, the Americans captured Trenton and Princeton, New Jersey, briefly pushing the British army back to New York. This maneuver forced the British troops to spend the winter in New York City. During this short three-week campaign, the entire cause of the American Revolution was saved by Washington's bold and skillful action, and the Revolutionary troops were more confident of their abilities to win their war for their independence that they rightfully deserved. General George Washington Died: 1799.